§ 41. Sir FRANCIS FREMANTLEasked the President of the Board of Education for how many children accommodation is available in special schools for mentally defective children; and for how many accommodation was available 25 years ago?
Mr. STANLEYThere is accommodation available in special schools for 16,562 mentally defective children as compared with accommodation available in 1911 for 11,854.
§ Sir F. FREMANTLEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that is satisfactory progress considering the importance of the problem?
Mr. STANLEYIn a recent circular I issued I pointed out that there was a need for better residential accommodation for these children m certain areas, and I urged local authorities to make progress in the matter.
§ 42. Sir F. FREMANTLEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will arrange for the notification of defective children on leaving school to the mental deficiency authority?
Mr. STANLEYProvision is made in Article 4 of the Mental Deficiency (Notification of Children) Regulations for the notification of mentally defective children due to leave special schools on or before attaining the age of 16. There is no power whereby local education authorities can notify children leaving other schools, but the Board have suggested that such children could be informally brought to the notice of the mental deficiency authorities for friendly supervision on a voluntary basis.
§ Sir F. FREMANTLEIs the President of the Board looking aster this to see if it is carried out properly, because the information generally is that it is not carried out?
Mr. STANLEYThe whole question of closer co-operation is now under consideration by the local authorities.